Releases

Big Thief - U.F.O.F. - CD / LP / Indie LP

3 May 2019

U.F.O.F., F standing for ‘Friend’, is the name of the highly anticipated third record by Big Thief, set to be
released by 4AD on May 3rd.
The New York-based band, featuring Adrianne Lenker (guitar, vocals), Buck Meek (guitar), Max
Oleartchik (bass), and James Krivchenia (drums), has spent the last 4 years on an incessant world tour,
winning the devotion of an enthusiastic and rapidly expanding audience.
U.F.O.F. was recorded in rural western Washington at Bear Creek Studios. In a large cabin-like room,
the band set up their gear to track live with engineer Dom Monks and producer Andrew Sarlo, who was
also behind their previous albums.
Having already lived these songs on tour, they were relaxed and ready to experiment. The raw material
came quickly. Some songs were written only hours before recording and stretched out instantly, first take,
vocals and all.
Others were explored in search of perfected moments of dynamic feedback and spiritual, rhythmic
togetherness. A careful New Age sprinkle of mystical textures and stabs was added and kept in the mix
only when all agreed that each element had become absolutely crucial to the tune. The completed palette
feels classic, upfront and honest, with an occasional, welcome glimpse into the magic box.
Their songs represent an emotional bravery and realness that weaves intimate relationships with the
listener, a phenomenon that has made them one of the most widely-respected bands of the current era.
Their first two back-to-back releases, Masterpiece (2016) and Capacity (2017), have been analysed, wept
to, danced to, critically applauded, imitated, hummed idly, and shouted out loud. They have soundtracked
crowded restaurants, difficult conversations, cowboy bars, yoga classes, night drives, and lonely
bedrooms.
“Making friends with the unknown… All my songs are about this,” says Lenker; “If the nature of life is
change and impermanence, I’d rather be uncomfortably awake in that truth than lost in denial.”, says
Adrianne
The band make their return to Canada later in 2019 with shows Oct.15 Montréal (La Tulipe), Oct. 16
Toronto (The Phoenix) and Oct. 25th Vancouver (The Vogue).

In addition to LP and CD formats there is an indie exclusive LP pressed on clear orange vinyl.
“The alien abduction that happens in the lyrics of Big Thief’s new song “UFOF” is nearly as strange and
beautiful as the one that happens in the music.” – Pitchfork – Best New Track

“It was Lenker’s alluring charm along with her timid, surrealist folk songs, but the performance felt like a
cozy house show with one of the most fascinating songwriters around. It was an absolute treat.” -
Exclaim (from Adrianne’s recent solo performance in Toronto)

U.F.O.F. lifts the listener, slowly, into a delicate, celestial mystery, each member of the band adding their
own visceral mastery to its skyscape. Adrianne Lenker’s voice finds new resting places, layered like a
cloud above itself on album opener ‘Contact’ or crooning low through thick grass on ‘Betsy’. Her fingerpicked
guitar chords evolve and extend into warming harmony. Her leads beam passion and pain. Buck
Meek’s exploratory notes and avant-garde textures slither to the song’s subconscious narrative, while
James Krivchenia’s relaxed tempo and snare drum ghost notes possess your head into a steady bob.
Max Oleartchik’s bass guitar playing is elusive and rhythmic, either crouching undetected or ripping a
quick one for the people. When his bass goes missing from the song ‘Cattails,’ imagine him levitating
above the tune in quiet meditation, waiting for that perfect moment to slide back into the mix. The
moment doesn’t come till halfway through the next song.
When the album’s final number drifts away into droning, alien invitations, the power to look within our own
selves has been fully transmuted. The dreamer awakes and sees for a moment a vibrating figure
disappear from the corner of the bedroom. The door is open and future music awaits. It’s morning.
Goodbye alien.